Get a credit card from http://www.netspend.com

or get a no-tel motel room.

batta bing batta boom

go talk to da godfadha and make dem an offa dey can't refuse.....

or

i always have 'my friends' put it in their cc or their name - and
vesa versa....

i am not 100% sure this will work..but I reserve it on a CC then pay cash upon depature so that it will not charge my card..and if you tell the hotel you dont want it to show up..they usually will hold the amount of the room,not process it and take the cash when you depart alot of hotels really will understand if you say its very important.. or if its  only being used for one apt ask your provider if she will get you the room,and you will compensate her for it ...hope this helps

I mailed a money order for the full ammount in advance.
Leaves no paper trail and works like magic as long as you make sure they don't have your home address.

when i make my reservations, i tell them ill be paying cash at checkin.  the card is to hold you room only, nothing is put on it or anything at all that you were there.

This takes a bit of planning but get a separate 'hobby' bank account with a visa debit card.  Have statements sent somewhere besides home, certainly.  It's especially beneficial in that you can salt away a bit of cash here and there into the account without arousing too much suspicion, whereas a $400 withdrawal from your regular bank account at one time might raise an unwanted eyebrow.

It really depends on the hotel.  Some take your credit card number just to hold the room and then will only charge the card if you don't show up.  Others require one night to be charged to the card at the time of the reservation.  Each hotel probably has different policies, check with them.

This has been a greatly informative thread for me. I actully ened up making the resvtn, then fedxing a money order w/ the confmtn number on it. Worked great! Now the idea about the bank account w/ visa check card was great! Anyone know if it will show up on a credit report?
 also the netspend card is an awesome idea

-- Modified on 1/14/2004 8:27:35 AM